Wrist training ball and information display and detecting module thereof

ABSTRACT

A wrist training ball includes a housing, a rotating body rotatably disposed in the housing, a magnetic component and an information display and detecting module. The magnetic component, disposed at the rotating body, spins with the rotating body. The information display and detecting module, disposed at the housing, includes a sensing unit, a rectifying unit, a signal transforming unit and a processing unit. The sensing unit generates an induced current when the rotating body is spun. The rectifying unit, electrically connected to the sensing unit, rectifies the induced current into an operating power. The signal transforming unit, electrically connected to the sensing unit, transforms the induced current into a motion datum. The processing unit, electrically connected to the rectifying unit and the signal transforming unit, receives the operating power for operation and processes the motion datum to determine a relative motion relationship between the rotating body and the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)on Patent Application No(s). 102200720 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jan.11, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a wrist training ball, more particularly to awrist training ball including an information display and detectingmodule.

2. Description of the Related Art

A gyroscope is applied in a wrist training ball, and the wrist trainingball may be spun by this mechanical manner. By applying a rotatingmotion with the hand, the wrist training ball is able to generate astrong rotational speed greater than 10,000 revolutions per minute(rpm). A stronger resistance is created by the higher revolutions perminute (rpm), which contributes to strengthening the user's wrist andarm.

The wrist training ball may receive an initial kinetic energy by astarting device such that it is beneficial for the user to operate thewrist training ball. For example, the starting device is a pulling cord,a rack or a generator. In order to let the user know the information ofthe rotation of the rotating body of the wrist training ball,manufacturers developed a wrist training ball including an informationdisplay and detecting module. Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a circuitdiagram of an information display and detecting module in prior art. Theinformation display and detecting module comprises processing unit 670,a battery 650 and a mechanical switch 660. The battery 650 providespower for the processing unit 670, and when the wrist training ballrotates so as to trigger the mechanical switch 660, the processing unit670 sends the rotating information to the processing unit 670 for beingread. When the battery 650 runs out of its power, the user must replacethe battery 650. Otherwise, the user may connect an electronic port ofthe information display and detecting module to an outer power source(e.g., mains) so as to recharge the information display and detectingmodule. Therefore, the user must stop his/her training process toreplace or recharge the battery 650, so the information display anddetecting module can be operated again, which is inconvenient for theuser. Moreover, the usage and consumption of the battery 650 is anenvironmental pollution. Furthermore, the life span of the mechanicalswitch 660 is short, and when the mechanical switch 660 is switched in ahigh speed, a false signal is easily generated. When the mechanicalswitch 660 is replaced by a Hall integrated circuit or a light sensor,both of the Hall integrated circuit or the light sensor may provide moreprecise signal and have longer life span, but the output signals of thetwo are weaker, and an amplifier must be additionally disposed.Therefore, the number of the electronic components is greater, and theamplifier needs additional power.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a wrist training ballcomprising a housing, a rotating body, a magnetic component and aninformation display and detecting module. The rotating body is disposedin the housing, for spinning in relative to the housing. The magneticcomponent, disposed at the rotating body, for spinning in relative tothe housing with the rotating body. The information display anddetecting module, disposed at the housing, comprises a sensing unit, arectifying unit, a signal transforming unit and a processing unit. Thesensing unit is configured to generate an induced current when therotating body is spun in relative to the housing. The rectifying unit,electrically connected to the sensing unit, is configured to rectify theinduced current generated by the sensing unit into an operating power.The signal transforming unit, electrically connected to the sensingunit, is configured to transform the induced current generated by thesensing unit into a motion datum. The processing unit, electricallyconnected to the rectifying unit and the signal transforming unit, isconfigured to receive the operating power for operation and isconfigured to process the motion datum to determine a relative motionrelationship between the rotating body and the housing.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides an information display anddetecting module comprising a sensing unit, a rectifying unit, a signaltransforming unit and a processing unit. The sensing unit is configuredto receive a magnetic force changing to generate an induced current. Therectifying unit, electrically connected to the sensing unit, isconfigured to rectify the induced current generated by the sensing unitinto an operating power. The signal transforming unit, electricallyconnected to the sensing unit, is configured to transform the inducedcurrent generated by the sensing unit into a motion datum. Theprocessing unit, electrically connected to the rectifying unit and thesignal transforming unit, is configured to receive the operating powerfor operation and is configured to process the motion datum to determinea relative motion relationship with the magnetic force changing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow, along with the accompanyingdrawings which are for illustration only, thus are not limitative of thepresent disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wrist training ballaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the wrist training ball in FIG.1;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an information display and detectingmodule in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a circuit diagram of the information display and detectingmodule in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an information detecting module in priorart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent,however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devicesare schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view ofa wrist training ball according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.2 is a schematic exploded view of the wrist training ball in FIG. 1. Awrist training ball 10 of the embodiment comprises a housing 100, arotating body 200, a ring 300, a magnetic component 400 and aninformation display and detecting module 500. The housing 100 includesan accommodating space 100 a. The housing 100 comprises a first shell110 and a second shell 120. The second shell 120 is assembled to thefirst shell 110 to form the accommodating space 100 a together. The ring300 is slidably disposed in the housing 100. In other words, the ring300 is adapted for sliding in relative to the housing 100. The rotatingbody 200 is rotatably pivoted to and disposed in the ring 300.Therefore, the rotating body 200 is located in the accommodating space100 a of the housing 100, for spinning in relative to the housing 100.The magnetic component 400 is disposed at the rotating body 200, forspinning in relative to the housing 100 with the rotating body 200. Inthis disclosure, the magnetic component 400 may be located on orembedded in the rotating body 200. The housing 100 further includes aplurality of openings 101 and 102. The opening 101 is disposed on thefirst shell 110, and the other opening 102 is disposed on the secondshell 120. The rotating body 200 exposes from the opening 101. Theinformation display and detecting module 500 is detachably disposed inthe opening 102 of the housing 100, but is not limited to thedisclosure. In other embodiments, the information display and detectingmodule 500 is fixedly disposed in the opening 102 of the housing 100.Additionally, the information display and detecting module 500 islocated on the housing 100. Moreover, the information display anddetecting module 500 comprises a first fastening portion 501, and thehousing 100 comprises a second fastening portion 103. The firstfastening portion 501 and the second fastening portion 103 aredetachably fastened to each other. When the information display anddetecting module 500 needs to be replaced, the information display anddetecting module 500 can be detached from the housing 100.

Please refer to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, FIG. 3A is a block diagram of aninformation display and detecting module in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is acircuit diagram of the information display and detecting module in FIG.2. The information display and detecting module 500 comprises a mainbody 510, a circuit board 520, a sensing unit 530, a rectifying unit540, a power storage unit 550, a signal transforming unit 560, aprocessing unit 570, a display unit 580 and an input unit 590. The firstfastening portion 501 is located on the main body 510 that is detachablydisposed on the second fastening portion 103 of the housing 100 via thefirst fastening portion 501. The circuit board 520 is disposed on themain body 510. The sensing unit 530 includes a hook 531. The sensingunit 530 is disposed on the circuit board 520 by the hook 531 which isfastened to the circuit board 520. In this embodiment, the sensing unit530 comprises a plurality of coils. Because the information display anddetecting module 500 is fixedly disposed at the housing 100, when therotating body 200 is spun with respect to the housing 100, the magneticcomponent 400, which is disposed at the rotating body 200, isaccordingly spun in relative to the information display and detectingmodule 500 disposed at the housing 100. Therefore, the magneticcomponent 400 generates a relative movement in relative to the sensingunit 530 of the information display and detecting module 500, a changingof the magnetic force (i.e., magnetic force changing) is generated inrelative to the sensing unit 530 (that is, the changing of the magneticflux passing through the sensing unit 530). Consequently, the sensingunit 530 generates an induced current according to the Faraday's Law ofInduction.

The rectifying unit 540, the power storage unit 550, the signaltransforming unit 560, the processing unit 570 and the input unit 590are all disposed on the circuit board 520. The rectifying unit 540 iselectrically connected to the sensing unit 530. The signal transformingunit 560 is electrically connected to the sensing unit 530. Therectifying unit 540 and the signal transforming unit 560 arerespectively coupled to the sensing unit 530. The rectifying unit 540 isconfigured to rectify the induced current generated by the sensing unit530 into an operating power. The signal transforming unit 560 isconfigured to transform the induced current generated by the sensingunit 530 into a motion datum. The power storage unit 550 is electricallyconnected to the rectifying unit 540 and the processing unit 570, so theprocessing unit 570 is electrically connected to the rectifying unit 540via the power storage unit 550. The power storage unit 550 is configuredto store the operating power which is rectified by the rectifying unit540 and also configured to supply the operating power for the processingunit 570. As shown in FIG. 3B, in this embodiment, the power storageunit 550 comprises a capacitor, and the power stored by the powerstorage unit 550 may provide a supply voltage Vcc for the processingunit 570. The processing unit 570 is electrically connected to thesignal transforming unit 560. The processing unit 570 is configured toreceive the operating power for operation and is also configured toprocess the motion datum to determine a result of a relative motionrelationship between the rotating body 200 and the housing 100. Forexample, the relative motion relationships are the rotating speed,rotation revolutions, acceleration and angular acceleration of therotating body 200 in relative to the housing 100. The display unit 580is electrically connected to the processing unit 570. The processingunit 570 is also configured to control the display unit 580 to displaythe result of the relative motion relationship between the rotating body200 and the housing 100 with respect to the changing of the magneticforce. In this embodiment, the display unit 580 comprises a displayportion and a backlight portion disposed on the display portion (notshown). The backlight portion helps the user to read messages shown onthe display portion. Furthermore, the processing unit 570 is alsoconfigured to calculate the time of rotations of the rotating body 200,that is, the time of operation of the wrist training ball 10. The inputunit 590 is disposed on the circuit board 520 and is electricallyconnected to the processing unit 570. As shown in FIG. 3B, in thisembodiment, the input unit 590 is electrically connected to the signaltransforming unit 560. In other embodiments, the input unit 590 and thesignal transforming unit 560 are independently disposed to be separatedby a distance. A button 591 is disposed on the main body 510 andcorresponds to the input unit 590. When the button 591 is pressed, theinput unit 590 is triggered, and the input unit 590 transmits an inputsignal to the processing unit 570. The processing unit 570 switches thecontent of the display unit 580 according to the input signal. Forexample, when the button 591 is pressed, the processing unit 570controls the display unit 580 to switch and display the result of therelative motion relationship and the time of operation. Furthermore, theprocessing unit 570 may reset the time of operation according to theinput signal.

In other embodiments, the information display and detecting module 500does not comprise the power storage unit 550, and the rectifying unit540 is directly and electrically connected to the processing unit 570.The operating power which is rectified by the rectifying unit 540directly supplies power for the processing unit 570.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the wrist training ball 10 is operated, theuser may control a starting device (not shown) to provide an initialkinetic energy for the rotating body 200. For example, the startingdevice is a pulling cord, a rack or a generator. The starting device isin contact with the rotating body 200 via the opening 101 so as to makethe rotating body 200 spin (namely, rotate), thereby providing theinitial kinetic energy for the rotating body 200. During the operationof the wrist training ball 10, the rotating body 200 is spun to make themagnetic component 400 spin accordingly such that the sensing unit 530generates the induced current. As shown in FIG. 3, some of the inducedcurrent is rectified into the operating power by the rectifying unit540, and the operating power is supplied for the processing unit 570 tooperate. The signal transforming unit 560 may output the motion datumaccording to the induced current and the amplitude thereof. Therefore,the processing unit 570 is configured to determine the relative motionrelationship between the rotating body and the housing with respect tothe changing of the magnetic force. The larger the frequency of theinduced current is, the faster the rotating body spins.

According to the wrist training ball disclosed in this embodiment,because of the induction effect between the magnetic component disposedat the rotating body and the information display and detecting moduledisposed at the housing, the sensing unit generates the induced currentaccording to the changing of the magnetic force. The processing unit isconfigured to rectify the induced current that is received form therectifying unit into the operating power as well as configured toreceive the motion datum that is transformed from the induced current bythe signal transforming unit. When the user operates the wrist trainingball, the processing unit may receive the operating power from theinduced current and the motion datum from the induced current at thesame time. As long as the user operates the wrist training ball, theinformation display and detecting module is operated and performsdetecting without other sources of power (does not need other powersupply). Because the sensing unit is electrically connected to theprocessing unit via the signal transforming unit as well as via therectifying unit, the processing unit not only obtains the motion datumof the rotating body according to the induced current but also receivesthe operating power from the induced current. Therefore, the wristtraining ball according to the disclosure saves energy and avoids theinconvenience of the user and environmental pollution resulted from thereplacing of battery.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrist training ball, comprising: a housing; arotating body disposed in the housing, for spinning in relative to thehousing; a magnetic component disposed at the rotating body, forspinning in relative to the housing with the rotating body; and aninformation display and detecting module disposed at the housing, andthe information display and detecting module comprising: a sensing unitconfigured to generate an induced current when the rotating body is spunin relative to the housing; a rectifying unit electrically connected tothe sensing unit, and the rectifying unit configured to rectify theinduced current generated by the sensing unit into an operating power; asignal transforming unit electrically connected to the sensing unit, andthe signal transforming unit configured to transform the induced currentgenerated by the sensing unit into a motion datum; and a processing unitelectrically connected to the rectifying unit and the signaltransforming unit, and the processing unit configured to receive theoperating power for operation and configured to process the motion datumto determine a relative motion relationship between the rotating bodyand the housing.
 2. The wrist training ball according to claim 1,wherein the information display and detecting module further comprises:a main body detachably disposed on the housing; and a circuit boarddisposed on the main body, and wherein the sensing unit, the rectifyingunit, the signal transforming unit and the processing unit are disposedon the circuit board.
 3. The wrist training ball according to claim 1,wherein the information display and detecting module further comprises afirst fastening portion, the housing comprises a second fasteningportion, and the first fastening portion and the second fasteningportion are detachably fastened to each other.
 4. The wrist trainingball according to claim 1, wherein the information display and detectingmodule is fixedly disposed at the housing.
 5. The wrist training ballaccording to claim 1, wherein the information display and detectingmodule further comprises a power storage unit electrically connected tothe rectifying unit and the processing unit, and wherein the powerstorage unit is configured to store the operating power that isrectified by the rectifying unit and to supply the operating power forthe processing unit.
 6. The wrist training ball according to claim 5,wherein the power storage unit comprises a capacitor.
 7. The wristtraining ball according to claim 1, wherein the information display anddetecting module further comprises a display unit electrically connectedto the processing unit, and the processing unit is also configured tocontrol the display unit to display information of the relative motionrelationship between the rotating body and the housing.
 8. The wristtraining ball according to claim 7, wherein the display unit comprises adisplay portion and a backlight portion disposed on the display portion.9. The wrist training ball according to claim 1, wherein both therectifying unit and the signal transforming unit are electricallyconnected to the sensing unit by coupling.
 10. The wrist training ballaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an accommodatingspace and the rotating body is located in the accommodating space. 11.The wrist training ball according to claim 10, wherein the housingcomprises a first shell and a second shell, and the second shell isassembled on the first shell to form the accommodating space.
 12. Thewrist training ball according to claim 1, further comprising a ringslidably disposed in housing, and wherein the rotating body is pivotedon and adapted for spinning in relative to the ring.
 13. The wristtraining ball according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes anopening where the rotating body is exposed.
 14. An information displayand detecting module, comprising: a sensing unit configured to receive amagnetic force changing to generate an induced current; a rectifyingunit electrically connected to the sensing unit, the rectifying unitconfigured to rectify the induced current generated by the sensing unitinto an operating power; a signal transforming unit electricallyconnected to the sensing unit, the signal transforming unit configuredto transform the induced current generated by the sensing unit into amotion datum; and a processing unit electrically connected to therectifying unit and the signal transforming unit, the processing unitconfigured to receive the operating power for operation and configuredto process the motion datum to determine a relative motion relationshipwith the magnetic force changing.
 15. The information display anddetecting module according to claim 14, further comprising: a main body;and a circuit board disposed on the main body, and wherein the sensingunit, the rectifying unit, the signal transforming unit and theprocessing unit are disposed on the circuit board.
 16. The informationdisplay and detecting module according to claim 14, further comprising apower storage unit electrically connected to the rectifying unit and theprocessing unit, and wherein the power storage unit is configured tostore the operating power that is rectified by the rectifying unit andconfigured to supply the operating power for the processing unit. 17.The information display and detecting module according to claim 16,wherein the power storage unit comprises a capacitor,
 18. Theinformation display and detecting module according to claim 14, furthercomprising a display unit electrically connected to the processing unit,and wherein the processing unit is also configured to control thedisplay unit to display the relative motion relationship.
 19. Theinformation display and detecting module according to claim 18, whereinthe display unit comprises a display portion and a backlight portiondisposed on the display portion.
 20. The information display anddetecting module according to claim 14, wherein both the rectifying unitand the signal transforming unit are electrically connected to thesensing unit by coupling.